BPI Plots Japan Trade Mission June 04, 2008
- Global
By Andre Paine, London
The BPI will launch its trade mission to Japan on Aug. 3 in conjunction with the program of events to mark the 150th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the U.K. and Japan.
The U.K. music industry trade body is running its Japan trip for the fifth year, facilitating British delegates meeting and presenting their titles to Japanese companies.
Executive speakers from the Japanese industry include Universal Music international managing director Kimitaka Kato; Hostess Entertainment founder and president Andrew 'Plug' Lazonby; Frank Takeshitka, CEO of Creativeman Live Productions; and Ken Ohtake, president Sony Music.
The trade mission will also take in the first day of the Summer Sonic Festival. Coldplay, The Verve, Paul Weller, Fatboy Slim, Sex Pistols and the Jesus and Mary Chain all headline stages this year.
"Japan has always had an incredibly favorable disposition toward U.K. music, especially of the indie genre, and the trade mission presents an unrivalled opportunity for those labels to begin and develop their business in this market," says Julian Wall, director BPI independent member Services and international events, in a statement. "Through the mission, in less than one week, delegates can meet and develop an invaluable set of contacts there that would normally take years - and possibly several thousand emails - to collect."
Japan is the biggest music and entertainment market in the world outside of the US. In 2007 the market was worth $3.5 billion at trade value level and $4.8 billion at retail.
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